The German federal government has offered a measured response to recent proposals suggesting a mandatory service year for retirees, either in social work or national defense.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs stated on Friday in Berlin that the government has not yet had the opportunity to form a conclusive opinion on the matter. The spokesperson further indicated that the upcoming work of the Pension Commission, scheduled to begin next year, will be relevant to discussions surrounding potential policy changes.
The call for a mandatory service year originated with Marcel Fratzscher, President of the German Institute for Economic Research, who argued in a recent interview that older generations should contribute more actively to society, potentially through roles in social services or even assisting with national defense. Fratzscher highlighted the potential benefit to the armed forces of utilizing the technical expertise possessed by many retired individuals, specifically those with prior military training.
The Ministry of Defence offered a similarly cautious response, stating its standard policy of not commenting on statements made by external parties.
The suggestion is not entirely new; generational researcher Klaus Hurrelmann recently proposed a similar mandatory social service scheme for seniors nearing the end of their careers. Hurrelmann argued that expecting younger generations to bear the sole responsibility for national defense is inequitable.
